Just wanted to warn anybody who plays at Dick Mack's shop in Dingle that your secret is out. I just spotted the following, in one of our local papers:
"Now fortified against the December frost, we continued strolling through town until we came upon a shoe repair shop named Dick Mack's. Not yet having walked the soles off our boots, we would not have paid heed to the inconspicuous storefront, except for the very loud wail of Irish music seeping through every crack. We looked at each other and decided to investigate the shoe repair shop with a live band.
"We opened the door and found ourselves full in the middle of the room, the eyes of the crowd staring quizzically at the interlopers who stood frozen in the doorway. The cramped space looked like the movie set of a 19th century cobbler's shop, the wooden shelves adorned with leather goods, and like Foxy John's, on one side of the small room was a bar. Somehow, there were about 70 people inside, listening to the music - banjos, fiddles, recorders, drums - with seemingly someone new whipping out an instrument every few seconds. I felt like a complete arse, but there was nothing to be done now except wade through the throng and look for a hole to drop into."
And he went outside for a fag, lit up, and turned round to go back in. And the door wasn't there, or the shop either, and there was no music to be heard. Everything in the street was perfectly ordinary, with people going about their business. A leprechaun came up to him and said, "I'll get you back in again for 50 Euros..."
Ah, I should have done more research than just checking to see if the session was listed here. Apparently it's "probably the most famous pub in Dingle," according to a French-based tourism site.
Didn't enjoy my last visit there - too posh, full of well-heeled types who kept eyeing me suspiciously - but I got the upper hand by lacing their drinks - ha -that got the tongues wagging ;-/
The "last" thing? Let's hope that's the sole shoe repair joke this thread. Otherwise the whole thing might get laced with them. So tread carefully. And I bet most of them weren't well-heeled. I bet they were on their uppers. Anyway, you'd know if they were too posh, or were just good honest Irish lads by the sound of their brogues. Still, at least the musicians were instep.
[sorry to nick some of yours, domnull ... no, thinking about it - cobblers! I'm not ]
Would you be a shoe-in if you went to that session? Or would you be booted out? It might be taking a big step musically to play there and you don't want to be clogging up the pub, if you know what I mean.
A sole trader, certainly. One that thinks about contemporary health issues, where stout shoes keep your hosiery unmolested (the so-called "safe socks"). And if it happens to be a lovely sunny day when you visit, you might get a nice light tan.
I guess it's okay then if you don't have socks in the public bar bar but rather go into the loo, unless of course you're totally wellied and no one gives a boot.
Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Just wanted to warn anybody who plays at Dick Mack's shop in Dingle that your secret is out. I just spotted the following, in one of our local papers:
"Now fortified against the December frost, we continued strolling through town until we came upon a shoe repair shop named Dick Mack's. Not yet having walked the soles off our boots, we would not have paid heed to the inconspicuous storefront, except for the very loud wail of Irish music seeping through every crack. We looked at each other and decided to investigate the shoe repair shop with a live band.
"We opened the door and found ourselves full in the middle of the room, the eyes of the crowd staring quizzically at the interlopers who stood frozen in the doorway. The cramped space looked like the movie set of a 19th century cobbler's shop, the wooden shelves adorned with leather goods, and like Foxy John's, on one side of the small room was a bar. Somehow, there were about 70 people inside, listening to the music - banjos, fiddles, recorders, drums - with seemingly someone new whipping out an instrument every few seconds. I felt like a complete arse, but there was nothing to be done now except wade through the throng and look for a hole to drop into."
http://www.seattlepi.com/travel/411442_Ireland1022.html
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by John Galt
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
And he went outside for a fag, lit up, and turned round to go back in. And the door wasn't there, or the shop either, and there was no music to be heard. Everything in the street was perfectly ordinary, with people going about their business. A leprechaun came up to him and said, "I'll get you back in again for 50 Euros..."
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
sole music
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Ah, I should have done more research than just checking to see if the session was listed here. Apparently it's "probably the most famous pub in Dingle," according to a French-based tourism site.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by John Galt
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
People have been writing "discovery " stories about Dingle and Dick Mack's since the days of The Quiet Man and probably before.
But ... "recorders" ... ?
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Bren
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
" . . . recorders, drums . . . ."
Let the bitching commence.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
That's the "last" thing that might happen (sorry, that's meant to be a shoe repair pun)
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by RichardB
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Didn't enjoy my last visit there - too posh, full of well-heeled types who kept eyeing me suspiciously - but I got the upper hand by lacing their drinks - ha -that got the tongues wagging ;-/
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by domnull
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
The "last" thing? Let's hope that's the sole shoe repair joke this thread. Otherwise the whole thing might get laced with them. So tread carefully. And I bet most of them weren't well-heeled. I bet they were on their uppers. Anyway, you'd know if they were too posh, or were just good honest Irish lads by the sound of their brogues. Still, at least the musicians were instep.
]
[sorry to nick some of yours, domnull ... no, thinking about it - cobblers! I'm not
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by ethical blend
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
So is this a sole proprietorship?
Sounds like the place was so packed that you'd need a shoe horn to get in there.
I'd make sure you get there early to get a seat, so you don't get caught flat-footed.
I heard they also have a decent selection of food to boot.
OK, I'm out. Pun on!
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Would you be a shoe-in if you went to that session? Or would you be booted out? It might be taking a big step musically to play there and you don't want to be clogging up the pub, if you know what I mean.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
A sole trader, certainly. One that thinks about contemporary health issues, where stout shoes keep your hosiery unmolested (the so-called "safe socks"). And if it happens to be a lovely sunny day when you visit, you might get a nice light tan.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
... and if it's with your lover, it might be extra-marital socks ...
... ooh, ooh! I like this one - if it's with a big check (pattern), does that make it casual socks?
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by ethical blend
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
I also gather that they soften the sound with a subtle bit of taped music playing while the musicians play. They call it "dubbin' ".
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by ethical blend
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
I guess it's okay then if you don't have socks in the public bar bar but rather go into the loo, unless of course you're totally wellied and no one gives a boot.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Is the "public bar bar" for woolly socks?
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by ethical blend
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
I don't know. Do you like your socks woolly?
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
I particularly enjoyed the music though - nice 'vamping' guitar - all in all, a very polished performance.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by domnull
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Ooo, this thread has gotten awfully socksy!
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Just shows what a close-knit community we are!
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
"I heard they also have a decent selection of food to boot."(SWFL)
I agree - the t-aglet-elli is very good - nice slippery strands. And toe cap off the meal, a nice slice of shoo fly pie.
(Enough! - people have been suspended for less than this!)
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by domnull
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
...awww. It was getting good. Darn it!
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Threads like this need a warning, like the movie reviews that say "Spoiler Ahead."
I don't like to be pun-ished without warning...
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by AlBrown
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
This is a good thread! Let's hope it doesn't unravel.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
ps is that the opposite of a French composer?
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Didn't Sharon Shannon record a live album in there?
"The Diamond Pattern Sessions"
I'll get my shoes ...
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Bren
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Can I "sneak"er into this discussion barefoot or must I put my shoes on first?
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
Some tunes you might hear:
The Lilting Banshoe
The Connaughtmans Sandals
The High Heel Reel
Maid In A Shoebox
etc.
# Posted on October 23rd 2009 by Mike Floorstand
Re: Dick Mack's, you've been rumbled
"Didn't Sharon Shannon record a live album in there?
"The Diamond Pattern Sessions"
Bren, no that was Paul Simon doing "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes"
# Posted on October 24th 2009 by domnull